Signal device and system



July 16, 1935. H. J. FINDLEY 2,008,546

SIGNAL DEVICE AND SYSTEM Filed Sept. 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVE N TOR.

Hon/am I find/61 1. BY

ATTORNEYS,

July 16, 1935. H. J. FINDLEY SIGNAL DEVICE AND SYSTEM Filed Sept. 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

INVENTOR.

Howard J find/6y ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sromu. osvrca AND svs'rsm Howard J. Findley, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Bishop & Baboock Mfg. Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 14, 193:. Serial No. 689,412 12 Claims. (01. 111-1) improved signal system and apparatus of, the

class referred to.

' Another object is to provide an improved signaling system and apparatus of the class referred to whereby audible signals of a distinctive character may be made.

Another object is to provide an improved system and apparatus whereby audible signals may be made having the character of a musical tone or tones.

Another object is to provide an improved signal system and apparatus whereby audible signals may be made having the character of .a plurality of harmonious musical tones.

Another object is to provide a musical tone producing signal system and apparatus whereof the musical tones may be selectively changed and/or adjustably varied. Another object is to provide an audible signal system and apparatus whereby a musical tone or tones may be produced in an improved manner.

Another object is to provide an improved signaling system and apparatus for producing a plurallty of musical tone signals and having means I for sounding the tones at will in any selective sequence whereby to produce audible signals v having the character of tunes.

Another object is to provide, for electric signal systems and apparatus of the class or classes re: ferred to hereinabove, an improved electric control circuit or circuits.

Another object is to provide, in an improved signaling system and apparatus'for producing a plurality of musical tone signals at will, and se-.

lectively, an improved controller means for selecting the tones to be produced.

other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevatlonal view partly in crosssection of a sound-producingdevice which I may employ in the practice of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of one form an electric circuit which I may employ in conelectro-magnetic circuit IS, the central pole ll of nection with the device of Fig. l for electrically energizing the same; v

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view partly in eleva tion of a rotary contacting device which I may employ and which is illustrated toa smaller scale diagrammatically in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view taken from the plane 4-4 of Fig. 3; v v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view from the plane 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating another electric circuit or system which I may employ in connection with the device of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a side sectional view to an enlarged taken scaleof a controller means illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 6; I

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a device or means for introducing a time element in the operation of my invention which may be used instead of a thermal device as illustrated in Fig. 2 or 6; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view taken from the plane lll0 of Fig. 2.

Reierring to Fig. 1, I have illustrated at l,

generally, a sound amplifying horn and at 2, generally, an electrically energizable soundproducing device responsive, upon the reception thereby or electric current impulses, to translate the same into sound waves for amplification by the sound amplifying horn I.

The horn I and device 2 maybe variously constructed. In the illustrative example thereof of Fig. 1, I have shown at 3 and 4 housing elements having peripheral flanges 5 and G'clamped together by bolts 1 and clamping therebetween a transversely vibratory diaphragm 8. Suitable annular rings 9-4 may be interposed between the diaphragm and the flanges. I

Secured to a central portion of the diaphragm 1 is a tubular winding support It! having wound thereon an armature'winding' H. The winding ll extends inwardly axially between inwardly radially extending poles l2--l2 of an E-Iorm which extends axially into the tubular support II and therefore into the winding I. A field winding 15 is provided on the central pole l4 and thus when energized generates magnetism in the gap between the poles l2 and the central pole H.

In a manner well known in the art, impulses of current directed into the winding I I will cause it to move axially and vibrate the diaphragm 8 by reaction of the current in the winding l l upon the magnetic field in which it is disposed as above 55 described. The sound thereby produced by the diaphragm 8 is amplified by the horn l, the air column in the horn communicating with the air in cdntact with the diaphragm 8, in a chamber 95 6 provided between the diaphragm and the housing to ground. The thermostat will portion 3.

Circuit wires ill and i8 and circuit wires l3 and 20 are, respectively, led into the housings 3-4 to energize the field winding 45 and the armature winding M respectively in a manner to be described.

Referring to Fig. 2, I have indicated diagram- 4 matically the diaphragm B, the field magnet 03,

armature winding M, field winding '55, the field circuit wires l l and i3 and the armature winding circuit wires 53 and 23.

A source of current such as a storage battery 26 is provided, connected at one terminal to the wire l8 and at the other terminal by a wire 22 to ground. v

It is one of the advantages of my invention that it is particularly applicable to motor vehicles, and in such applications, the storage battery of the vehicle may be advantageously employed as the battery 2 l.

At 23 is indicated a switch of the push button type having a terminal connected by a wire 25 to ground and another terminal connected to a wire 25.

At 25 is illustrated a thermostat, such for example as a bimetallic thermostat rigidly supported at one end 21 and at the other end free to move with changes of temperature. Associated with its free end is a resilient switch arm 23 normally resiliently engaged with a stationary switch contact 23 when the thermostat is in the low temperature condition. A second switch arm 35 is mounted to move with the thermostat when heated to engage a stationary contact 3 l An adjusting screw 32 threaded into the free end portion of the thermostat and engaging by its head the arm 30, is provided to adjust the gap at the contact 3! so that it will be engaged at the instant that the contact 23 is disengaged by the resilient arm 28, the arm 28 remaining in engagement with the contact 23 through a part of the move.- ment of the thermostat due to the resilience of the arm 28.

A heating element 33 is provided for the thermostat, one terminal of which is connected to the wire 25 and the other of which is connected to the wire l1.

As will now be apparent, upon closing the push button switch 23, current may flow fromthe battery 2| by Wire l8 through the field winding 85 and then by wire llthrough the heating element 33 to the wire 25, and thence through the switch accordingly, after the elapse of a time interval during which it is being heated, move to break the contact at 28-29 andmake contact at 35-36 for a purpose to be described.

When the switch 23 is closed, current also flows from the battery 2! by wires l8 and 23 through the armature winding ii and by wire 69, thermostat 26, contacts 28-29, and wire 35, to and through a vibratory contact device 35 and thence by wire 36 to the wire'25 and through the push button switch 23, energizing the armature winding I I, the energization being pulsating or interwinding 39, an armature 38 in the form of a vibratory reed fixed at both ends as by screws 40 and 40' to arms of a frame 4| and carrying at its middle portion a contact 42 engageable with a stationary contact 43 on an adjusting screw 44 supported in a stationary support 45 on the frame l! insulated therefrom, as at 46. The circuit through the device is by way of a wire 34 above described, the winding 39,- to a ground on the frame and thence to the reed 38, contacts 42-43 and to the wire 35 electrically connected to the screw 43 through the support 45.

When the current flows as above described, energization of the magnets 39-31 attracts vibrator reed armature 38 and breaks the circuit at 43-42 whereupon the vibratory reed retracts and again closes the circuit at the contacts 43-42. Thus the reed will vibrate back and forth interrupting the current in the circuit of the armature winding H. The reed 38 may have a normal periodicity of vibration and this may be adjustably changed through a limited range by a fiat metaladjusting element 41 clamped under the screw 40, overlapping the adjacent end portion of the reed 38; and the amount of overlap being adjustably variable by means of an elongated slot fill in the element 37.

The device 35 will thus operate automatically to interrupt the current in the circuit of the armature winding II and by choosing a reed 38 of vibrating frequency of a musical tone, the armature winding M will be energized with impulses of musical tone frequency and, as will now be clear, will cause a musical tone to be limited by the sound amplifying horn ll. And as will also be apparent, this tone will continue, if the switch 23 is held closed, until the heater 33 has heated the thermostat 26 to the point where it will move upwardly as viewed in the drawings to break the circuit of the armature winding H at the contacts 28-23 whereupon it will cease.

My invention contemplates producing this single musical tone in this manner as a signal for short intervals of time, or for the sounding of short duration signals, the switch 23 on such occasions being only momentarily closed. Where, however, a signal of longer duration is desired, it may be effected by means which will now be described by merely holding the switch 23 closed for a longer period.

At 50 is illustrated a small electric motor having circuit wires and 52 connected respectively to the wire I8 and thewire 25 whereby upon closing the switch 23, the motor will be energized and will start, to turn. The motor has an extension shaft 53 supported in bearings 54-54 and between the bearings carries a plurality, such as four, current; interrupting devices 55-55 illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 2 and illustrated in one actual embodiment in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The mode of operation will first be described in connection with Fig. 2 and thereafter the actual device by which it may be effected will be completely described.

When the thermostat 26 has moved upwardly as viewed in the drawings and closes the contacts 33-31 and assuming that the switch 23 is maintained closed, to operate the motor 50, current may flow from the battery 2| through the wire 88, armature winding 1 I, wire l9, thermostat 26, contacts 30-3, and by, a wire 56 and wires 51-51 to the several current interrupting rotary devices 55'and through the same to the shaft 53 whence it may fiow through acurrent collecting brush device 58 and a wire 59 to the wire 52 and thence by the wire II to the switch 23, to

complete the circuit.

The rotation of the current interrupting devices 55 by the motor 5| causes each of the devices 55 to break' up the current into-impulses. With respect to the rotational velocity of the motor and the number of interruptions of each device per revolution, each device causes impulses to occur at the frequency of a musical tone. The periodicity of the impulses of the several devices 55 are chosen corresponding to the L several tones or notes of a musical chord and thus the impulses energizing the armature winding II will be current impulses composed of a plurality, such as four, impulses of different frequencies; that is to say, the current impulses will be composite impulses and the tone emitted by the horn, caused by the energization of the armature winding H by such impulses, will be a tone of beautiful quality and harmonious effect.

My invention contemplates the employment of a single device 55,'and in such case it will now be clear that the tone emitted by the horn will be a more or less simple or single musical tone of any desired pitch determined by the periodicity of the interruption eflected by the device 55; and as just stated, where/a plurality of devices 55 is employed, each of different periodicity, the horn will emit a composite or chord type of tone.

As will now be clear, therefore, when the push button or other switch 23 is closed and held closed, the thermostat 26 will be in its lower position as viewed in the drawings and the device 38 will cause the horn to emit a musical tone of a predetermined pitch, preferably a relatively low pitch. While this is going on, the motor 56 will be started and come up to speed and then, after a predetermined short interval, determined by the heating effect of the heating element 33, and

' rooting devices 5% will HOW be described m con nection with Figs. 3, l and "The extension 53 01* the mo erably separate from the n motor and is coupled theretocoupling E6. The shaft extension is rotatably supported in hearings 5t-5 l termed lnthe legs 53 and at of a ll-shaperl frame 6? preferably molded from insulating material. Between the legs t3 and fi l is a rotor mounted on the shaft extension .53 and formed from and with a arr- .pluralityoi contacting points 66--% extending axially trom' each side thereof, with insulating compound $1 molded on the rot-or between the contact points, the entire rotor being in the form of a disc, and the contact points :26 in sulation Ell providing opposite planar on the rotor.

contact points .515 are arra ed a entity of circular groups as plainly Fig. 4 and are preferably elongated radially.

a is illustrated the right-hand lace oi the disc as viewed in Fig. 3 and there is provided four cir cular series of contact points. which circular series may be indicated by reference characters C, E, G and B. bThe oppositeface of the rotor 55 is not separately illustrated but will appear similar to the right-hand side which is illustrated in Fig. 4, and also may be provided with four circular series of contact points.

The leg 53 of the frame is provided with four perforations extending axially therethrough, in which perforations are disposed corresponding piungers 68, 59, II and II. Through the other leg 4 extends a similar set or four plunger: II,

13, I4 and". The perforations and the plungera are preferably rectangular as indicated in F188. 4 and 5"and the bores through which they extend may be disposed radially as shown in Fig. 4. Upon the leg 53 are mounted four flat spring elements 16 resiliently pressing upon the outer ends of the plunger 68-'ll to resiliently hold them inwardly in their bores and to hold their inner ends resiliently upon the corresponding face of the rotor :5. On the other leg :4 of the frame is'a corresponding set of flat springs for holding the plungers 12?!5 inclusive against the opposite face of the rotor. The springs 16 are secured upon the legs by screws l'l projected therethrough,

and the screws ll also clamp into position on the frame electric terminal connections ll-It.

Extending radially through the lower part or closed end of the iii-shaped frame is a brush it engaging at its inner end the periphery of the rotor 65 and at its outer end spring-pressed by a spring secured to the frame 52 by a screw SI and provided with a thermal connector l2.

Circuit wires 5! may be connected to the terminals l8 and a circuit wire 5! the terminalv When the motor 53, which'may be connected to the shaft W, rotatably drives the rotor by the shaft extension St, the contact points It rapidly and successively engage the plungers 55 to ll and whenever a contact point engages a plunger, an electric circuit is completed from one of the wires 5?, through the corresponding spring i6 and the said plunger, and a contact l to to the rotor 65, and thence by brush *2! and lug the wire 59; and this circuit wi l be in. .1 and broken, or interrupted, by the rapid engagement and, engagement of salt-l elmiger with the o ct m. i one an Where the cyst desired cues oomprlslng the x means of es, K

oi the 85, such as that must-raw the devices it of 3, G and t may be in .l ig. as dlcatedl by the reference characters common 0::- Fig. 2 and to t; now be clear, the motor to will drive the rotor is and the circle caused to occur at the which will produce four musical; tones or a musical as demribed for the devices 55 in Fig. I have a modification for inthe hlt-srval hereiubeiore referred to, and which may be used instead of the thermos stat device of Fig. 2. In this modification, a shaft 90 is driven by the motor 55 and has thereon a sliding sleeve 9 i Centrifugal weights 9292 are connected to flat spring devices 95-93, one end of each of which is connected as at 96 to the shaft and the opposite end to the sleeve ti.

on the sleeve is a metal ring 95 of relatively great axial extent and a short ring 95, connected to the ring 95 and insulated therefrom by an intermediate insulation ring Mil.

The wire is (see Fig. 2), is connected to a brush 9! bearing on the ring 55; and the wire 35 is connected to a brush 95 bearing on the ring 95; and the wire 56 is connected to a brush 95 bearing upon a portion oi the sleeve 5! preferably made from insulating material.

\ When the shaft 90 is started into rotation by the motor 55, the circuit from the wire is is completed to the wire M from the brush 5?, through the ring 95, through the ring as and out at the brush 58. After the motor comes up to speed, the weights 52 will have moved outwardly radially and cause the springs 53 to draw the sleeve 9| toward the left as viewed in Fig. 9, and then the circuit from the wire 59 will be established to the wire 58 from the ring 95 to the ring 96 and out by way of the brush 99, the

circuit to the brush 98 being broken upon the insulating portion I of the ring.

Thus with this arrangement also, the circuit to the single tone device will first be made and then after an interval of time has elapsed during which the motor will speed up, the circuit to the multitone producing elements will be, as above described, established and the former circuit broken. In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, means is provided to produce any one of a plurality of musical tones by the horn i prising a switch I06 preferably of the push button type and a plurality of switches, preferably of push button type, tar-m, the latter preff erably being disposedin a circular arc with the switch :86 at the center thereof, and all supported-upon a suitable housing are illustrated separately in Fig. "I. The radial distance from the switch I55 to the switches it?! is preferably that suitable for engagement of the push button switch 585 by the palm or heel of the operators hand and the concurrent engagement of the push button switches it? by the fingers of the operator's hand. 4 Upon closing the switch M35, current may flow from the battery 255 by wires W9 and i it to a motor iii, and thence by wires M2 and 203 to the switch 855 and thence by wire M3 to ground, completing the circuit. At the same time current may flow by wire 159 and a wire N41 to the field winding 65 of the sound producing device, and thence by wires M5 and a wire M6 to the wire m, and $0 01!. to ground through as switch we. The motor Mi then starts and comes up to its full speed. By the closing of the switch; tilt anothercircuit also is from the wire it!) through a wire MT! and the heating element M8 95! a thermostat H5 and thence by wire 625 and wire 8 E5 to the switch 955 and to ground.

The circuit of the ature winding M is by way'of wire we and a wire ifii to the armature winding, and thence by a wire i22 tea stationaryv accepts contact i223 of a thermostatic switch of which the element M9 is the thermostatic element. A movable contact M5 is carried on the thermostatic element M9 for engagement to the contact E23; and the said circuit is adapted to be completed, from the contact 625 through the fthermostat H9 and by a. wire M5 to a sliding contact 55 on an extension shaft 53 of the motor iii.

Upon the shaft extension is a plurality, such as eight, of devices 55 through which current may flow from the brush 5% and shaft 53 over one or more wires tat-H6 to the push button switches WI, and thence by wires iZI-flZTI to the wire H3 and thence to ground.

After energizing the heating element H8 as above mentioned, and after the elapse of a predetermined interval of time, the thermostatic element 589 will respond to the increase of temperature and close the contacts i23-i2d. This interval of time is suflicient to allow the motor Hi to'come up to full speed, and after the said contacts 925-425 have been closed, if any one or more of the push button switches it" are closed, current may flow over the circuit above described including the devices 55 to energize the armature winding ii. The current flowing over the circuit will be interrupted by each of the devices 55 and it will energize thearmature H with a pulsating current in each case oi. a musical tone frequency.

The frequency of interruption by the devices 55 may be the frequencies of an octave oi the diatonic musical scale, and thus by suitably and successively closing the push button switches I01 a tune may be played on the horn device II; or, a number of the switches I01 may be closed simultaneously to cause the horn to emit the sound of a musical chord. If a single button Illll be pressed, at single interrupting device 55 will be in circuit and a single musical tone will be produced; Where more than one of the devices 55 are placed in the circuit by. the switches till, the pulsating current to the armature winding i i will be a composite pulsating current composed of a plurality of pulsating currents.

Thus a great variety or signal eil'ects and/or musical effects may be produced by the horn device I accordingly as the push button switches Hill are closed singly, in chord combinations, or in musical tune sequence.

Any suitable construction for the controller means H55 may be provided. One form is shown in Figs. '7 and 8. The button it may have a stem 0'28 sliding axially in a bore in a wall of the housing Hit. A spring of the leaf type 925 may normally hold the button W5 outwardly and may be bent downwardly by pressing on the button and caused to engage a contact element 585 to close a circuit between the wires M8 and 293. The push button switches it? may have stem portions mi sliding in suitable bores in the housing wall and may normally be held outwardly by spring contact elements 532; and when the buttons are depressed, the arm 052 may be depressed into contact with a spring contact element 933 to close a circuit from the wire A25 to the wire H5.

The stem Edi of the pushbutton it? may have i a laterally extending pin I343 normally movable in a groove H35 in a boss G35 on the housing; and the button may be depressed and then rotated to bring the pin i3 3 under the boss as shown in dotted lines at i3! to retain the button in the depressed position and to retain .the contact elements is? and E83 ciosed. Thus as an alternasource therefor, a first electrically actuable means for producing in the circuit, impulses of a predetermined musical tone frequency to cause-the sound-producing device to produce a first correspending musical tone, a second electrically actuable means for producing in the circuit current impulses of musical tone frequency composed of I a plurality of different frequencies to cause the produce sound when energized with sound-producing device to produce a second corresponding musical tone composed of a plurality of harmonious tones, operable means, to control both electrically actuable means, and omrable for periods of varying time duration at the will of the operator, and, for repeated operations of less than a predetermined maximum duration, repeatedly effecting production of the first musical tone, and automatic means to effect production of the second musical tone after'optional production of the first musical tone at the will of the operator beyond said predetermined um duration.

5. In a signal system and apparatus, in com- I bination, a sound-producing device responsive to produce sound when energized by undulatory electric current, an energizing circuit and cur-- rent source therefor, a first electrically actuable means for producing in the circuit, impulses of a predetermined musical tone frequency to cause the sound-producing device to produce a first, corresponding musical tone, a second electrically actuable means for producing in the circuit current impulses of musical tone frequency composed of a plurality of difierent frequencies to cause the sound-producing device to produce s. second corresponding musical tone composed of a plurality of harmonious tones, operable m to control both electrically, actuable means, and operable for periods of varying time duration at" the will of the operator, and, for repeated operations of less than a predetermined maximum duration, repeatedly efiecting production of the first musical tone, and means to effect production of the second musical tone and cessation of the first musical tone after optional production of the first musical tone at the will of the operator beyond said predetermined xim dura= tion.

6. In a signal system and apparatus, in bination, a sound-producing device e: to

electric current, an energizing circuit an r We; rent source therefor, a motor driven current mutator for producing in the circuit imp of musical tone frequency to cause the d-pro= ducing deviceto emit musical tones; the cur= rent interrupter comprising a rotor and stator, one provided with a plurality of sequen 1. y dis= posed contacts and the other provided with a K w tact successively engageable thereby at musical tone frequency upon relative rotation of rm rotor and stator, an energizing circuit for the motor, operable means for efiecting ener of the motor circuit, and autotic w. fect energization of the sound puc at the end of a predetermined time in energization of the motor.

7. In a signal system and ap rvtus, in combination, a sound-producing device a nsive to produce sound when ener with undtory electric current, an energizing circuit and current source therefor, a motor driven v an int a M:

aooaase mutator for producing in the circuit impulses of musical tone frequency to cause the sound-pro- .ducing device to emit musical tones; the current interrupter comprising a rotor and stator,

one provided with a plurality of sequentially disposed contacts and the other provided with a contact successively engageable thereby at musical tone frequency upon relative rotation of the --rotor and stator, a thermal time element device,

' rent source therefor, a first electrically actuable means for producing in the circuit impulses of a predetermined musical tone frequency to cause the sound-producing device to produce a first corresponding musical tone, a motor-driven actuable means for producing in the circuit current impulses of musical tone frequency composed of a plurality of difierent frequencies to cause the sound-producing device to produce a second corresponding musical tone composed of a plurality of harmonious tones, an energizing circuit for the motor, a time element device, an electric energizing circuit therefor, a single operable means to effect energization of the motor circuit and time element device and first electrically actu-' energization of the sound-producing device by the motor-driven means after a predetermined time interval following energization of the motor circult and energization of the sound-producing device by the, first electrically actuable means.

9. In a signal system and apparatus, in combination, a sound-producing device responsive to produce sound when energized with undulatory electric current, an energizing circuit and current source therefor, a first electrically actuable means for producing in the circuit impulses of a predetermined musical tone frequency to cause the sound-producing device to producer; first 601,

responding musical tone, a motor-driven actuable m for producing in the circuit current imof musical tone frequency com of a plurality of difierent frequencies to cause the sound-producing device to produce a second correspon musical tone composed of a plurality of i s an. ous tones, an energizing circuit for the motor, a thermal time element device,'an electric ene circuit therefor, a single oper= alole'm 1- to efiect energization oi? the motor circuit and thermal time element device and first electricallyactuable means, and the thel time element device efiecting energization of the 35 able means, and the time element device effecting ing circuit for the motor, operable means for eifecting energization of the motor circuit, and automatic means to effect energization of the sound producing device at the end of a prede termined time interval after energization of the motor.

11. In a signal system and apparatus, in combination, a sound producing device responsive to produce sounds when energized with undulatory electric current, an energizing circuit and current source therefor, a motor-driven current commutator for producing in the circuit impulses of musical tone frequency to cause the sound producing device to emit musical tones, a thermal time element device, energizing circuits for the motor and thermal device, operable means for efiecting energization of the motor circuit and of the thermal device, and the thermal device effecting energization of the sound producing device at the end of a predetermined time interval after energization of the motor.

12. In a signal system and apparatus, in combination, a sound producing device responsive to produce sounds when energized with undulatory electric current, an energizing circuit and current source therefor, a motor-driven current commutator for producing in the circuit impulses of musical tone frequency to cause the sound producing device to emit musical tones, a delayed operation device, energizing circuits for the motor and delayed operation device, operable means for effecting energization of the motor circuit and of .the delayed operation device, and the delayed operation device effecting energization of the sound producing device at the end of a predetermined time interval after energization of the motor.

HOWARD J. FINDLEY. 

